Fort Bliss suspends Adopt-a-Soldier program

Pvt. Casey Shaneyfelt checks out the home-cooked meal that was laid before him during Thanksgiving in 2009. Fort Bliss has temporarily suspended its Adopt-A-Soldier program because of changing demographics at the installation, said Fort Bliss Garrison public affairs officer Jean Offutt. (Times file photo)

FORT BLISS >> The Adopt-A-Soldier program, a holiday tradition dating back at least 25 years, has ended - at least for this year.

Fort Bliss has temporarily suspended its Thanksgiving Day program because of changing demographics at the installation, said Fort Bliss Garrison public affairs officer Jean Offutt.

"There just weren't enough soldier volunteers to meet the needs of the community who wanted them in their homes," Offutt said.

Young single soldiers - the target group for the program - make up less of the installation these days, Offutt said. About 60 to 70 percent of Fort Bliss' soldiers are married.

The El Paso community has always embraced the program, Offutt said.

REPORTER

David Burge

For decades the holiday program partnered single soldiers who were in El Paso without family with El Paso community members and older soldiers who took the soldiers home to enjoy a holiday meal and camaraderie at Thanksgiving.

The program will be re-evaluated later to see if there is more interest in future years or to see if Fort Bliss starts getting more single soldiers, Offutt said.

Soldiers who participated in past years "carry with them fond memories of getting out of the barracks and spending a day with a local El Paso family," Offutt said. "They will never forget this opportunity they had."

Fort Bliss wants to continue to foster strong ties to the El Paso community and wants El Pasoans to know they are welcome to visit the installation this holiday season for tree lighting ceremonies, holiday concerts and other events, Offutt said.

Rick Glancey, chairman of the Armed Forces Division at the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, said he "isn't shocked" that the program has been suspended, having noticed the same demographic changes in recent years.

"But it was not from any lack of interest on the El Paso community's part," Glancey said.

"If things should change in the future, the community would welcome soldiers back into their homes."

Sufjan Stevens, "Carrie & Lowell" (Asthmatic Kitty) Plucked strings and pulsing keyboards dominate the distinctive arrangements on Sufjan Stevens' latest album, and in the absence of a rhythm section, they serve to keep time. Full Story

ODESSA, Texas (AP) — A West Texas man has been charged with impersonating an officer by using sirens and flashing lights to skip to the head of the drive-thru line at a fast-food restaurant. Full Story